And This One Belongs to Marty

Ever since before I was born, the voice of the Cincinnati Reds has been radio broadcaster Marty Brennaman. Known for calling it as he sees it and for his trademark "and this one belongs to the Reds" catchphrase after the Redlegs get a win, Marty has become a local legend in Cincinnati. 

He came to Cincinnati in 1974 and was paired up with "the Ol' Left-Hander" Joe Nuxhall. Together the two were tagged as "Marty and Joe" and became Cincinnati celebrities as they called games together until Nuxhall retired in 2004. Marty continued to call the action from the Reds radio booth and was paired up with "the Cowboy" Jeff Brantley. The two formed an on-air chemistry similar to that of Marty and Joe and became a new fixture on Cincinnati Reds radio broadcasts. The talent of the team might have fluctuated, but Marty's presence on the radio was consistent. 

This week marks not only the end of the Reds 2019 season but also the career of Marty Brennaman. The Hall of Famer will call his final Reds game on Thursday, September 26. It is only fitting that Marty's final game is the Reds' 2019 home finale during their 150th anniversary season. 

I have gotten to meet Marty a few times throughout the years, and I can honestly say he is one of the nicest sports personalities I have ever met. He always greeted me with a smile, and in my option, he was one of the greatest representatives of the Cincinnati Reds organization. I was fortunate enough to get a baseball signed by both him and Joe when I was a kid. I won a contest to announce the leadoff batter during one of the innings of a game in 2002. Back then, the kids got to go into the PA booth which is right next to the radio booth which is how I was able to get their autographs. I still have that baseball in my collection. 

Marty is not only a legendary figure in Cincinnati Reds history, but he is also part of the city of Cincinnati's history. He has been in numerous commercials for local businesses and is often regarded as the voice of the Queen City. He will be truly missed by Reds fans and Cincinnatians alike. Thank you and enjoy retirement, Marty. It really does belong to you. 

Domata Peko Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a 2012 Florence Freedom SGA Cincinnati Bengals bobblehead of Domata Peko. 

The Boo Birds and the Bengals

This past Sunday, the Cincinnati Bengals dropped a massive turd on the field for their 2019 NFL home opener when they were waxed by the San Francisco 49ers 41-17. I was in attendance and stayed for the entire game. I can honestly say it was the worst Bengals game I have watched in person. Fans justifiably booed this team and left the game early. 

I had to have been one of maybe 200 Bengals fans left in the stands. The 49ers faithful stayed until the end and greatly outnumbered the remaining fans of the Bengals. Chants of "Let's go Niners" echoed throughout Paul Brown Stadium. It was a deflating loss that drained me of all optimism that I had following the encouraging performance the Bengals turned in against the Seattle Seahawks. 

During post game interviews, quarterback Andy Dalton and running back Joe Mixon said they did not like the fans booing. My first thought on this is for both Dalton and Mixon was to grow up and not complain about it. Fans have a right to boo. It comes with the price of admission. If I spend some of my hard earned money on a ticket to see my favorite football team play in person, I will boo until I have no voice left if they play like absolute garbage. 

Another thought that came to mind was that if they don't want fans booing, don't give them a reason to boo. There was very little to cheer for on Sunday. On the other hand, there was a ton to boo. Dropped passes, an interception, a fumble, blown coverage, and a missed field goal are a few of the many reasons fans had to boo the Bengals. You know what? I'm also going boo Dalton and Mixon's comments. Boooooooooooooooo!

Don't get me wrong. I love Dalton, Mixon, and the Bengals. I have been and always will be a faithful member of Who Dey Nation. But if this team gives me a reason to boo, I'm going to do just that. In conclusion, if the Bengals want to hear cheers over boos, then give the fans a reason to cheer. If not, expect the boo birds to continue to circle Paul Brown Stadium. 

Clash of Champions 2019 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE Clash of Champions 2019. 

The Wednesday Night War

A few weeks ago, I wrote about All Elite Wrestling's television deal with TNT in which the new wrestling brand will be broadcasted live every Wednesday night. I mentioned that while not the start of a new Monday Night War, it was definitely the beginning of a television battle in the professional wrestling industry with AEW having fired the first shots. World Wrestling Entertainment did not take long to retaliate by announcing that NXT will move to the USA Network from the WWE Network on September 18. 

What was a staple of the WWE Network, and in my opinion one of its biggest selling points, was NXT as it showcased some of the best future stars WWE had to offer. Wrestlers such as Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Beat Wyatt, Kevin Owens, Becky Lynch, Sami Zayn, and Alexa Bliss among others spent time in NXT before being called up to the main WWE roster. It is literally a who's who of current WWE talent that were developed in NXT. 

Aside from changing networks, the run time and taped format will change as well. The show will be expanded to two hours and will be live every week. It will then be made available for on-demand viewing the next day on the WWE Network. 

NXT has long been considered the best WWE television show for hardcore wrestling fans as it generally does away with goofy segments and instead focuses on the action that takes place in the ring. That idea also appears to be the main focus of AEW so it makes sense that WWE would position NXT in a head to head competition with AEW. Whether or not the expanded run time or change to a live show every week has an effect on NXT remains to be seen. Hopefully Triple H remains in charge of NXT and focuses on the in ring product. If not, AEW might grapple NXT into submission. 

If you are a fan of pro wrestling, this is easily the most exciting time in the industry since the late 1990s and early 2000s when the battle between WWE's Monday Nigh Raw and WCW's Monday Nitro was at its peak. AEW is real completion for WWE. NXT could be a viable threat to AEW. The Wednesday Night War is about to begin, and I cannot wait to sit back, relax, and enjoy it. 

Miami Marlins Speaker Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes an Alexander Global Promotions Miami Marlins speaker. 

Follow Alexander Global Promotions on Twitter: @AGPBobbleheads

AEW All Out 2019 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on AEW All Out 2019.

Cincinnati Bengals 2019 Season Outlook

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone previews the Cincinnati Bengals' 2019 season. 

Battle of I-75 Helmet Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes an Alexander Global Promotions Battle of I-75 helmet.

Follow Alexander Global Promotions on Twitter: @AGPBobbleheads

Mike Eruzione Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes an Alexander Global Promotions Mike Eruzione bobblehead. 

Follow Alexander Global Promotions on Twitter: @AGPBobbleheads 

PandaRay Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes an Alexander Global Promotions bobblehead of PandaRay.
Follow Alexander Global Promotions on Twitter: @AGPBobbleheads

Shots Fired

All Elite Wrestling recently announced that it will air a two hour television show every Wednesday on TNT. While not the start of a new Monday Night War, it is definitely the beginning of a new battle for wrestling viewership. 

World Wrestling Entertainment has long dominated the wrestling indusrtry ever since World Championship Wrestling closed its doors in 2001. Total Nonstop

Action Wrestling was once seen as a potential competitor but has since fallen into near obscurity and airs on Twitch. Ring of Honor is on television via syndication, and New Japan Pro Wrestling is on tape delay on Axs TV. What has truly halted these promotions from becoming legitimate WWE competitors is exposure. That is what separates AEW from the rest of the pack.

The promotion made headlines with its signings and first ever pay-per-view, and has seemingly shaken the wrestling industry to its core with it newly announced television deal. Starting on October 2, 2019, AEW will air love on TNT from 8-10pm from the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. This is massive. AEW's roster depth, which features stats such as the Young Bucks, Cody, Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho, and Jon Moxley, was already considered to be a massive strength of the new Wrestling promotion. A live weekly television deal on a nationally broadcasted cable network will only bolster its popularity and attract more fans.

For the first time since 2001, WWE has real competition and that is fantastic for wrestling fans. Competition brings out the best in people. The Monday Night Wars featured the highest ratings for wrestling television shows in history. With AEW set to make its television debut in October, WWE will be forced to step up their game. A few shots have been fired by AEW in this new wrestling television war. Let's see how WWE responds.

SummerSlam 2019 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on WWE SummerSlam 2019.

"Thoughts on Wrestling" Update

As you may have noticed, my last "Thoughts on wrestling" video was posted on Tuesday as opposed to late Sunday night or very early Monday morning. That is because I have decided to no longer make those videos immediately after the wrestling event goes off the air.

A few months after I started Cincy Fan Zone, I started posting wrestling review videos immediately after pay-per-views. After about five years of following this schedule, I have decided to post my "Thoughts on Wrestling" videos on Tuesdays like all my other videos.  The reason for this is the lack of sleep I get that night is beginning to take it's toll. Factor in the amount of views that each "Thoughts on Wrestling" video receives, and it becomes pretty apparent that the effort that goes into publishing these videos as quick as possible is not worth it.

In conclusion, the "Thoughts on Wrestling" Videos" should be published every Tuesday like all the other videos on my channel. Also, there might be more wrestling videos now that All Elite Wrestling has burst onto the scene. There should be a "Thoughts on Wrestling" video after every AEW event, however I might also make combo videos reviewing both WWE and AEW events should they happen in the same week. If you are one of the few people who watch these videos, thank you for your support and for continuing to watch them.

Cincinnati Cyclones Jay Kruz Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a Cincinnati Cyclones Jay Kruz bobblehead. 

FCC Fan Fest

Can't get enough FC Cincinnati soccer? Well the orange and blue have you covered. FCC will host their very first fan fest on August 4 at Nippert Stadium. The event is free and will start at 6 p.m.

Every player on the FCC roster will be available for autographs which is more than enough reason to go in my opinion. There will also be a kid's mini clinic as well as bubble soccer and skill challenges. Other activities include a locker room tour and playing the FIFA video game on the stadium video board.

To me, this sounds like a great experience for all FCC fans as this will be the most access to the team that the club has offered. Autograph sessions, locker room tours, and other activities should make the night a fun one. Hopefully this event becomes a yearly tradition like Redsfest has for the Cincinnati Reds. It will keep current fans engaged with the team while creating new ones at the same time.

Reds Heads Mascot Bobblehead Unboxing

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone unboxes a 2018 Reds Heads mascot bobblehead.

Bengals Training Camp 2019

With the Cincinnati Reds and FC Cincinnati dominating the Cincinnati summer sports scene, it is easy to become mesmerized by the action that unfolds on the diamond and on the pitch. Soon though, Cincinnati sports fans will be able to take in the action of the gridiron as the Bengals officially start their 2019 training camp.

Training camp starts on Saturday, July 27, in Dayton. It will then move to Cincinnati on Sunday, July 28, and last until Monday August 12. Gates will open 30 minutes before practice starts with most practices starting at 3 p.m. The only exception is when practice starts at 2:30 p.m. on July 27 in which case gates will open at 1:30 p.m. The Family DEY practice on August 3 will also have an earlier entrance time beginning at 2:00 p.m.

Practices are held on the practice field right next to Paul Brown Stadium. The only practices not held on the practice field will be the one in Dayton and the Family Day event on August 3. The Family Day practice will be held inside Paul Brown Stadium and will feature a lot of activities and a giveaway for kids. If you are an autograph hunter like me, the family day practice is the best training camp session to attend as every player is available for autographs once practice concludes.

The Cincinnati Bengals training camp is a great way to check out the team up close and personal. It is really cool to witness the current players mix it up the rookie draft picks and see how well they mesh together. It is also a great opportunity to get some autographs from your favorite Bengals players! Attending training camp is something that I highly recommend as every true Bengals fan needs to experience it before the season starts.

Who Dey!

Bengal Graphs 2018

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shows the various Cincinnati Bengals autographs he got during the 2018 NFL season. 

AEW Fight for the Fallen 2019 / WWE Extreme Rules 2019 Thoughts

Ryan of Cincy Fan Zone shares his thoughts on AEW Fight for the Fallen and WWE Extreme Rules.